Bruuuce.com - tour reports

Venue: Visalia, CA .. August 21 2001

Click to check the photos!

An extremely enjoyable review from Mike Andrews.

Well, most people (Bruce included) wouldn't know Visalia from a hole in the wall. But, alas, it's here in the rural heart of California's great Central Valley where Bruce and the band graced his with a performance last night. Chanting thoughout the set, "It took me 15 years to get to Vi-saaal-ia", Bruce played to a modestly sized but highly enthusiastic crowd.

The concert was held in the cavernous Visalia Convention Center, where acoustics are far more suited to a craft show than a Bruce appearance. My wife and I have followed Bruce around his California appearances, from the beautiful Mt. Winery in Saratoga to the intimate Yoshi's in Oakland. When we saw that Bruce was coming to our hometown, we both nearly passed out I must admit that I had my fair share of trepidations that Bruce might not draw much of a crowd in our obscure area of the world. After all, the less populated land of orange groves, cotton farms and dairies is not exactly the most cosmopolitan venue in the world. But, sure enough, the eclectic Bruce faithful of the area turned out, displaying the same enthusiasm for Bruce's soulful, sometimes funky and totally from-the-heart sound that I'd seen in virtually every Bruce concert. We may have been a small crowd, but we were mighty! On the way to the concert riding our bikes, I commented "geez, never thought I be able to ride my bike to a Bruce concert".

Bruce opened the show with a characteristic warm-up run around the keyboards. I do not have a complete setlist (hopefully someone else got it), but the overall characteristic of the show was a return to roots. I heard more of the old standards tonight than I have heard in years, each with the usual spins and twists that keep the material new and fresh. These included a range from the kind and sensitive "Mandolin Rain", and "Pastures of Plenty" to the bluegrass "Jacob's Ladder", the jaunty "Rainbow's Cadillac" to a more traditional rendition of "Western Skyline".

I've rarely seen Bruce and the band more relaxed, at ease and having fun. Mind you, this is a group of folks who ALWAYS are relaxed and have fun. My fears that Bruce would "phone it in" to our small venue were quickly dashed, as I should have known they would. The usual jive and improvisations were at play between Bruce and all the band memebers, but Bruce and J.T. seemed to be even more finely tuned with each other than usual. J.T. usually gets that dreamy look on his face as he strokes the keyboards, but tonight he and Bruce seemed positively of one mind. This was particularly noticeable in a rendition of "Great Divide" that was awesome to behold. Beginning with a teasing pullback to quiet keyboards during the first chorus, the band erupted to a virtual spiritual epiphany at the end. As usual, tears to the eyes.

After the intermission, Bruce came out solo and played a blended and soulful menegerie of songs, at one point complaining that the band took off so he might as well keep playing. When the band returned, they continued the set taking the audience through every type of music imaginable with more improvisation on the material than I've ever seen. Again, did I mention they seemed relaxed? Bruce also displayed the usual awareness of his surroundings, his audience and the locale. Before playing "Rainbows Cadillac", he neatly slipped into mentioning the local headlines of the area athlete-gone-wrong story that appeared in the newspapers that day, as well as mentioning meeting up with an old friend at an "Oaks" (the local triple A baseball team) game that day. These stories, as well as their setting, evoke images of Hornsby songs where small town folks lead daily lives filled with ecstasy and quiet desperation. Who knows, maybe there'll be a new song about Visalia someday?!

Throughout the concert, Bruce gazed with concern as security folks continued to cordone concert-goers from the front of the stage. As the concert was nearing the three hour mark, he finally announced "you might as well let them come over here and dance". Knowing Bruce, I was wondering how this would be managed as the four foot high stage would not be easily assailed. But I also noticed an unusually large amount of floor space in front of the stage that was quickly filled with Bruce fanatics, all raising their arms and singing. The rousing finale of "King of the Hill" left everyone screaming for more, but not quite sure they'd be able to keep it up much longer. On the other hand, the band looked like they could easily play for hours more, wringing the musical verve from another crowd.

Who'd of thunk it? Here in little ole' Visalia, Bruce puts on one of his most free-spirited, back-to-the-roots, and genuinely fun concerts that I've seen. I guess it shouldn't have surprised me that Bruce and the band would feel so comfortable and "at-home" in a rural setting such as ours. After all, the music IS about real life going on for real people in thousands communities like Visalia, no matter where they're located. Thanks Bruce for having such a good time in our little piece of the world. As usual, it was truly a pleasure to watch.


		Tour reports - I'd love to hear about any shows you've been to, recent or distant. If you'd like to share, please mail anything to me, and I'll see that it goes straight up with full credit.
	Venue: Visalia, CA .. August 21 2001 Click to check the photos! An extremely enjoyable review from Mike Andrews. Well, most people (Bruce included) wouldn't know Visalia from a hole in the wall. But, alas, it's here in the rural heart of California's great Central Valley where Bruce and the band graced his with a performance last night. Chanting thoughout the set, "It took me 15 years to get to Vi-saaal-ia", Bruce played to a modestly sized but highly enthusiastic crowd. The concert was held in the cavernous Visalia Convention Center, where acoustics are far more suited to a craft show than a Bruce appearance. My wife and I have followed Bruce around his California appearances, from the beautiful Mt. Winery in Saratoga to the intimate Yoshi's in Oakland. When we saw that Bruce was coming to our hometown, we both nearly passed out I must admit that I had my fair share of trepidations that Bruce might not draw much of a crowd in our obscure area of the world. After all, the less populated land of orange groves, cotton farms and dairies is not exactly the most cosmopolitan venue in the world. But, sure enough, the eclectic Bruce faithful of the area turned out, displaying the same enthusiasm for Bruce's soulful, sometimes funky and totally from-the-heart sound that I'd seen in virtually every Bruce concert. We may have been a small crowd, but we were mighty! On the way to the concert riding our bikes, I commented "geez, never thought I be able to ride my bike to a Bruce concert". Bruce opened the show with a characteristic warm-up run around the keyboards. I do not have a complete setlist (hopefully someone else got it), but the overall characteristic of the show was a return to roots. I heard more of the old standards tonight than I have heard in years, each with the usual spins and twists that keep the material new and fresh. These included a range from the kind and sensitive "Mandolin Rain", and "Pastures of Plenty" to the bluegrass "Jacob's Ladder", the jaunty "Rainbow's Cadillac" to a more traditional rendition of "Western Skyline". I've rarely seen Bruce and the band more relaxed, at ease and having fun. Mind you, this is a group of folks who ALWAYS are relaxed and have fun. My fears that Bruce would "phone it in" to our small venue were quickly dashed, as I should have known they would. The usual jive and improvisations were at play between Bruce and all the band memebers, but Bruce and J.T. seemed to be even more finely tuned with each other than usual. J.T. usually gets that dreamy look on his face as he strokes the keyboards, but tonight he and Bruce seemed positively of one mind. This was particularly noticeable in a rendition of "Great Divide" that was awesome to behold. Beginning with a teasing pullback to quiet keyboards during the first chorus, the band erupted to a virtual spiritual epiphany at the end. As usual, tears to the eyes. After the intermission, Bruce came out solo and played a blended and soulful menegerie of songs, at one point complaining that the band took off so he might as well keep playing. When the band returned, they continued the set taking the audience through every type of music imaginable with more improvisation on the material than I've ever seen. Again, did I mention they seemed relaxed? Bruce also displayed the usual awareness of his surroundings, his audience and the locale. Before playing "Rainbows Cadillac", he neatly slipped into mentioning the local headlines of the area athlete-gone-wrong story that appeared in the newspapers that day, as well as mentioning meeting up with an old friend at an "Oaks" (the local triple A baseball team) game that day. These stories, as well as their setting, evoke images of Hornsby songs where small town folks lead daily lives filled with ecstasy and quiet desperation. Who knows, maybe there'll be a new song about Visalia someday?! Throughout the concert, Bruce gazed with concern as security folks continued to cordone concert-goers from the front of the stage. As the concert was nearing the three hour mark, he finally announced "you might as well let them come over here and dance". Knowing Bruce, I was wondering how this would be managed as the four foot high stage would not be easily assailed. But I also noticed an unusually large amount of floor space in front of the stage that was quickly filled with Bruce fanatics, all raising their arms and singing. The rousing finale of "King of the Hill" left everyone screaming for more, but not quite sure they'd be able to keep it up much longer. On the other hand, the band looked like they could easily play for hours more, wringing the musical verve from another crowd. Who'd of thunk it? Here in little ole' Visalia, Bruce puts on one of his most free-spirited, back-to-the-roots, and genuinely fun concerts that I've seen. I guess it shouldn't have surprised me that Bruce and the band would feel so comfortable and "at-home" in a rural setting such as ours. After all, the music IS about real life going on for real people in thousands communities like Visalia, no matter where they're located. Thanks Bruce for having such a good time in our little piece of the world. As usual, it was truly a pleasure to watch.